The upcoming Tom Mboya 70th and First Black Family Reunion in Africa, set to take place in Kisumu, Kenya, owes a significant debt of gratitude to Memphis 9th District Congressman Steve Cohen. First elected to Congress in 2006, Congressman Cohen has earned a reputation as a staunch champion of civil rights. In 2008, he was instrumental in passing a groundbreaking House resolution that formally apologized for the enslavement and racial segregation of African Americans. In 2019, he chaired a hearing on reparations, where he poignantly stated, “As I noted in my resolution, it is not just slavery itself that was wrong, but also the ‘visceral racism against persons of African descent upon which’ American slavery depended, a racism that went on to become ‘entrenched in the Nation’s social fabric,’ an evil that we must continue to confront today.”
Often unrecognized, Congressman Cohen has been a steadfast ally of Africa in Congress. Just months after his election in 2006, he visited the home of Anthony “Amp” Elmore, becoming one of Elmore’s greatest supporters in his efforts to bridge connections between Africans and African Americans.
Elmore, whose film “The Contemporary Gladiator” premiered in Kenya in 1990, met the late Kenyan President Daniel Arap Moi, who named him an African Ambassador in 1992. Elmore’s vision was to create a family, education, and trade link between Memphis and Kenya. However, his efforts faced opposition from African American Memphis Mayor Dr. W.W. Herenton, who resisted any relationship between his administration and Africa.
From 1990 to 2007, Elmore struggled to gain support from any elected official to develop these relationships. This changed when Congressman Steve Cohen, newly elected, visited Elmore’s home. Elmore had transformed his residence into the first All African home in America in 2006, which he later converted into the Safari House Museum Education and Cultural Center. This center became the venue for the first Black History Month African Dinner, organized by Elmore.
In February 2008, Cohen was an early supporter of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, further demonstrating his commitment to advancing African American causes and fostering international connections.
In 1998, during his travels to Ghana, Anthony “Amp” Elmore established Elmore African Imports, where he created African styled clothing for many noted Memphians and celebrities, including Wesley Snipes. When President Barack Obama was elected, Elmore had Ghanaian designers create an African Mudcloth tuxedo for him. Congressman Steve Cohen delivered the tuxedo to the White House. Although President Obama did not wear the tuxedo, the White House accepted it and noted that it would be placed in the Barack Obama Presidential Library. President Obama sent Elmore a thank you note.
Click here to see a video of the Tuxedo and Obama Thank you note.
President Barack Obama Jr., whose father is from Kenya, took office in 2009. Due to unrest, he could not visit Kenya but visited Ghana in 2009. The day before President Obama spoke in Ghana, Memphis Congressman Steve Cohen issued a news release on July 10, 2009, titled “Local Memphian Commended For Advancing US-Africa Cultural Understanding.” In the release, Congressman Cohen praised the work of Memphian Anthony “Amp” Elmore for his efforts in educating and enlightening people about the cultural and economic importance of Africa. Mr. Elmore’s home in Memphis has become a showcase for African artifacts, fabrics, and art, which has become known as “African style.”
Click here to read the Congressman Cohen July 10, 2009 News Release.
Since taking office, Congressman Steve Cohen has visited Anthony “Amp” Elmore’s Orange Mound home for various African celebrations and has arranged for Elmore to meet several African ambassadors from Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia, and South Africa. In 2013, Elmore traveled to Kenya to meet six newly elected Kenyan governors and Sarah Obama, the grandmother of President Obama. Elmore hosted African celebrations that Congressman Cohen supported, including the Tom Mboya 60th Celebration in August 2016, honoring one of Kenya’s founding fathers, Tom Mboya. It was Mboya’s efforts that led to Barack Obama Sr. coming to America for school.
In 2018, two Kenyans, Richard Kiptoo and Agrey Asava, visited Elmore in Memphis. This visit lead to their visiting Kenya together and leading to Kisumu Governor Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o visiting Memphis. They were warmly welcomed by Congressman Cohen. The successful meeting in Memphis resulted in Governor Nyong’o inviting Elmore to visit Kenya for the FESTAC Celebration in Kisumu, Kenya in August of 2024. Governor Nyong'o sought to continue plans to bring Africans and African Americans together. During his visit to Kenya, Elmore asked Congressman Cohen to write a letter to Kenyan President Dr. William Ruto on July 15, 2024.
Click here to read this letter to note the strong support Congressman Cohen gives Elmore.
Congressman Cohen also wrote a letter of support for Elmore attending FESTAC Festival. in Kenya. Click here to read Congressman Cohen letter of support for Elmore on August 13, 2024.
As a result of Elmore’s visit to Kenya, Arya Primary School named their art class the “Steve Cohen Center for Cultural Diplomacy.”
